Originally Posted by
Arnock
I've been commuting to school for the past semester, and I've been enjoying it greatly. However, the panniers I've been using are fairly old, one is developing a small hole, and neither are waterproof.
This semester, most of my textbooks are quite a bit larger, and one doesn't even fit in the panniers, so I'm thinking it's time for an upgrade.
Generally I'm having to carry 2 textbooks plus a netbook, a notebook, and some other misc. supplies like a graphing calculator. I also would prefer to have one that could function as a messanger bag once off the bike.
Shopping around awhile ago, I stumbled accross
this one, I liked the size and shape, but it just wasn't large enough to carry everything I needed.
I was wondering if anyone here had a good reccommendation, or at least knows of a good place to look around.
Ortlieb makes some very good panniers; they have the best mounting systems by far, something you really appreciate when you use the panniers daily. The Ortlieb QL2 system is good because it is extremely easy, fast and intuitive to use, while guaranteeing that the pannier doesn't fall off when hitting a pot hole or similar. Their panniers are also known for being very waterproof.
The Ortlieb Office bag L(arge) is an excellent commuter pannier for notebooks and books because of its reinforced square size, and because it is totally waterproof. It has several internal compartments for pens, calculator and papers etc. Ortlieb sells spare parts to everything, including materials for patching holes. It also has a padded shoulder strap so you can either carry it like a shoulder bag or as an messenger bag.
The problem with carrying panniers is that the mounting system on the backside tend to hook into your clothes and body. The easy solution is of course just to carry the pannier with the "ugly" pannier backside outwards, but it doesn't look so good. Ortleib have therefore made a new mounting system, QL3, that removes all hooks on the pannier so its backside is totally smooth and therefore doesn't snag your clothes.
There is a youtube video on how it works:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?hl=da&v=GCY__XlX-zk
I have no personal experience with this new quick release system, but I own both a pair of Ortlieb Back-Rollers and an Ortlieb Office bag L with the QL2 system, and I really like them. So if appearance isn't so important you can probably save a bit by choosing the Office bag with the QL2 system and carry it with the backside outwards, instead of the new QL3 Office bag.
Ortlieb products seems expensive at first, but panniers with similar features tend to be just as expensive. Besides that, they are very sturdy. I have used (abused) my Orlieb Back-Rollers daily for six years, and I see no reason why they shouldn't last six more years.
IMHO, avoid panniers that uses external raincovers or has hook and bungie mounting systems. Better solutions exist.
--
Regards